Calif. Hotel Could Fund Coastal Campground

Guests staying in San Diego’s posh Hotel del Coronado may make it possible for budget-conscious campers to pitch their tents just north of the border with Mexico, according to a report by U-T San Diego.

San Diego County Supervisor Greg Cox is pushing to develop a campground in the Tijuana River Valley Regional Park or at nearby Border Field State Park, which he said could help meet growing demand for affordable accommodations along the high-priced Southern California coastline.

One potential source of funding: a slightly more than $1 million account created three years ago when the Coastal Commission imposed mitigation fees as part of its approval of the Hotel del Coronado’s expansion and renovation master plan. It was the first time the levy was imposed on a San Diego County hotel project.

The money has been set aside specifically for low-cost accommodations, such as budget hotels, hostels and campgrounds.

“It has always been envisioned that at some point there would be a campground (as part of the regional park),” Cox said. “Now is a good time to start looking at the possibilities.”